When it comes to the relationship between an entrepreneur and venture capitalists, it’s typically assumed that the entrepreneur should be the one falling all over him or herself to make a good impression. While that’s true, so’s the reverse: as an entrepreneur, potential investors should impress you as well. The reason’s simple: while there are scores of excellent venture capitalists out there, there are also plenty of duds. You don’t want to find yourself shackled to an investor that you don’t get along with, or who isn’t truly invested in your business, or who just isn’t that good. It’s as much of a kiss of death for a start-up as any of the other more common pitfalls you’re probably aware of.

So what should you look for in potential investors? It’s not as complicated as you might think. Over at VCCircle, Naren Gupta, the founder and managing director of Nexus India Capital, rattles off a list of things he says an entrepreneur should expect from a world-class venture capitalists. He writes:

“Alas, all venture investors are not the same. You will need to do some homework before you embark on attracting the needed funding for your dream company. This homework will undoubtedly earn rich dividends. A well conceived plan could land you the right partner in short order. On the other hand a poorly planned foray can lead to an unending series of discussions or worse an investor, who is more a hindrance than help. You never want to end up with an investor who does not share your vision and is either too intrusive or too detached.”

So with that being said, here are the things he says you should look for from an investor (with our commentary):

-Knowledge and Understanding Of Your Proposed Business. “Your financial partner should be willing to dive into your proposed business plan and fully understand and appreciate the opportunities and risks.” Finding a venture capitalist who’s invested in start-ups in your industry before is one of the best ways to approach this. They’ll automatically have an understanding of the market and the opportunity.

-Willingness to Share Risks and Rewards. In other words, you don’t want an investor who’s prepared to bail should things get tough. “The investor should show willingness to support the team if you hit bumps on the road. This support requires deep market understanding and a willingness to share risks. Of course, you should not expect investor support if there are fundamental problems that cannot be fixed. Investors who have run companies in their prior life are more likely to be able to differentiate between temporary setbacks versus fatal flaws.”

-Timely Reponses. This one is a biggie. Sure, venture capitalists are busy, busy people. But if you can’t ever get your potential investor on the phone (that is, after he’s expressed serious interest in your business) or if he won’t respond to your emails, that’s a big red flag. Bottom line: “If the investor is not sufficiently responsive during the fund raising process, it is unlikely to get better after the investment.”

-Independent Thinking. “Entrepreneurs are generally too close to the business and can miss opportunities and hazards that are not directly in the line of sight. A strong investor will act as your eyes and ears into developments in and around the industry that may affect your business.” That is to say, you want someone who brings something new to the table.

-Trust. Get the feeling that your investor is trying to put one over on you? Then you’re missing the most important part of an entrepreneur/investor relationship: trust. Gupta puts it well: “Trust is what is going to carry the relationship when the chips are down – and they surely are at times during any remarkable journey.”

What else do you think you should look for in an investor?